Sewer cleaner cutter head



July f7, 1942. c. E. BABcocK v 2,288,771

SEWER-CLEANER CUTTER HEAD Y Filed MaICh v9, 1939 1NVENT0R (2mm-Neff. ac'oc/c A QRNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1942 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,288,771 SEWER CLEANER CUTTER HEADy Clarence E. Babcock, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application March 9, 1939, Serial No. 260,683

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a cutting head for cleaning and clearing sewer drains andthe like.

The chief object of the invention is to construct a cutting head. such that it will cut rapidly and efficiently through ostacles such as roots, accumulated debris, and like `materials in a drain which debris forms an obstruction therein to free ow of liquid therethrough.

Since apparatus having similar objectives are old and well known, a brief description thereof and of their operation will suffice for a better understanding of the present invention. Such apparatus usually incldes a cutting head, a flexible shaft connected thereto and of the desired length, and a source of rotational power for the shaft. The cutting head is inserted into the drain and the shaft rotated as it is fed into the drain. The `rotation of the head causes the cutters thereon to cut loose the roots and accumulated debris from the wall of `drain and also to cut up such accumulations so that the same may be readily washed or flushed to the lateral or main of the sewer system.

The present invention relates to an improved form of cutting head whichis sturdy, sharp, simple and efficient.

The chief feature `of the invention consists in the form, shape and size of the cutting blades and their connection to the shaft rotatable base of the cutting head.

Other objects. and features will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the` following description and claims:

In the drawing Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the cutter head embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles thereto.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the blade anchoring base portion.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View ofone of the blade retaining clamping members.

In the drawing-see all the figures except Fig.

`5---the numeral Il] indicates a base portion which herein is shown provided with two facesr II that other, and each face is provided at its side edge with a flange portion I2. These two flanges form a groovefor reception of the tail portion I3 of the cutterblade, and when located in said groove, the blade cannot pivot as hereinafter set forth. The height of these flanges preferably is less `preferably are substantially parallel to eachy than the thickness of the tail portion as shown clearly in Fig.- `1. V

Intermediate the front and rearward end of the base portion, there is'provided a pair ofv spaced members I4 which form a groove adapted to nest the tongue portion I5 formed as a reduced continuation of the tail portion. The shoulders between the tongue and tail cooperate with the adjacent faces of the spaced portions or abutments I4 and further insure predetermined positioning and location of the cutter blade with reference to the supporting base as well as resisting rearwardly directed longitudinal forces.

The rear end of the base portion is provided with an aperture I6 by which the base is suitablysecured to the means for rotating the cutter head structure. In view of the previous brief description of conventional` mechanism, no further description or illustration of the application of the flexible shaft to this base structure is given. From the foregoing, therefore, it will be apparent that the two cutter blades have their tail portions I3 positioned at opposite sides of the base portion and when the flanges I2 'are employed, said tail portions I3 are nested in the two oppositely directed grooves on the opposed side faces of the base.

Bearing on each of the blades is a clamping member, indicated by the numeral Il. One mem.- ber--see Figs. ,1 and 5-is apertured as at I8. The other member is similarly apertured but threaded as at I9. Each tail is apertured as at 2] and the base is apertured as at 2! and all of said apertures register.

A bolt structure 22 is herein shown provided with a recessed head 23 and a threaded endV 24. It extends through the registering apertures I8, 23, 2| and 20, and is threaded into the threaded aperture I9 for clampingly locking the clamping members,V the tail portions and the base Y together in rigid relation.

It will be readily apparent that the cutter head is subjected to considerable vibration, and the like, incident to its use and that the clamping member 22 may slightly loosen, although it is not intended so to do. 'Io assist in maintaining the parts against separation a bridge portion 25 may connect each upper end of the adjacent pair of portions or abutments I4 and each of the clamping members Il may include a tongue portion 23 that isr receivable by the opening 21 formed by the bridge 25, portions I4 and the base supporting the same, and tongue 25 on the clamping member I I will bear upon the tongue portion I5 of the cutter blade structure.

By the aforesaid construction, it is apparent that two cutter blades are positioned in the base grooves or positioned on opposite sides of the base, if not provided with said grooves, and then the two clamping members are positioned outside of the same with the tongues 2t seated in the openings 2'I. The clearances are relatively slight and all of the parts may be associated together by sliding the same longitudinally of and upon the base and thereafter this relatively compact group of parts is rigidly clamped in compact and rigid relation by means of the member 22.

Whenever it is desired, the two opposite faces of the base may be inclined towardV or away from each other and in that event, the corresponding confronting faces of the clamping members would be complementarily inclined. Preferably, the clamping member I'I, when tightened, does not engage the outermost face of the base flanges I2. It is, however, contemplated as a modified form, that said flanges may be extended outwardly a sufficient distance to nest not only the tail portion of the flange, but the clamping member II as well, parts being similarly longitudinally associated together in assembling and then clamped together 1in said assembled relation. Any or all of theseI modifications previously described and in most instances illustrated, may be employed to insure non-tilting of the tail portion of the blade about the axis of the clamping bolt 22.

Reference now will behad to the cutter blade and since both blades are substantially duplicates, a description of one will sufce for them both. It has been previously set forth that the blade includes a tail portion I3 and a tongue portion, if desired, Iii.` The bladev itself is substantially a half-sole in outline, the heel portion thereof being a continuation of the tail. The toe portion, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, is illustrated as being offset laterally from the central longitudinal plane through the openings I6 and 2I, and both blades when mounted, have their toe portions offset in oppositedirections-see Fig. 2.

Herein the numeral 2'I indicates the heel portion of the blade, 28 the blade itself and 29 the toe portion.

Each blade extends forwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 30', and then extends forwardly and inwardly as indicated at 3l. The amount of outward extension of lateral character is greater than the amount of inward extension, due to the half-sole outline, see also Figs. 1 and 3.

If, referring to the half-sole outline, the numeral 30a. indicates the inside edge and 3Ia the outside edge of the blade, as it were, then it will be observed, see Figs. 1 and 2, that there is a groove formed by this reverse curvature in the blade and herein such groove is biased relative to the aforesaid central plane indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, and by the numeral 32a, and to any plane transverse thereto. The axis of this groove is indicated by the dotted line 33 in Fig. 2.

The arrangement of the groove is such that each longitudinal blade element-see the parallel dotted lines YY and ZZ, for example-parallel to the plane 32a, has an initial direction outwardly and forwardly and thence inwardly and forwardly. This will be more apparent from Fig. 1 and the length of the proportionate parts in the outward direction to the inward direction progressively varies for adjacent elements-see Fig. 2. Herein the biased groove has its axis so directed that the forward end of the groove is closest to the toe portion 29 and is beyond the toe portion as well as the central plane 32a, before mentionedsee Fig. 2.

Blade stiffening means is provided and herein the same is shown integral with the blade and tail portion, and this includes the increased sum of the tapered thickness 40 which preferably is positioned upon the inside of the blade, although it may be positioned upon the outside. The same terminates as at 4I substantially at the intersection of the plane 32a and the axis 33. This provides a blade that is relatively stiff and stout in its. major portion, yet its tips are, relatively speaking, with reference to the remainder of the blade, less stiff so that the tips of the blades beyond the end of the reenforcement 49 may, if necessary, yield slightly whenever required. These blades are made of tough wrought metal and preferably are forgings. The edges of the blades preferably are appropriately beveled, thereby providing a sharp cutting edge, such beveling, however, for clearness has been intentionally omitted from the illustration.

As shown in Fig. 3, the dotted line O indicates the interior of a pipe with the cutter head therein. Edges 38a are the forward cutting edges. Edges 3Ia, are the'rearward cutting edges. The relation of the biased groove is that as the forward out is made, the material severed is fed forwardly so that it is readily flushed forwardly and ahead of the cutting head. Upon reverse rotation of the shaft the rearward edges cut from the pipe to the previous cut indicated by the dotted line M in Fig. 3. The head is fed forwardly and rearwardly alternately a distance to where the head jams in forward direction and then rearwardly a like or greater amount to where the feel indicates the pipe is completely freeY and clear.v Thus, the head makes two cuts, one of small bore in the forward direction and one of full bore in the rearward direction.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawing and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative andnot restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A cutting head for sewer line cleaning and the like, including a pair of half-sole-like outlined cutter blades each with an anchoring tail portion extending from what would be the instep end of the blade, the toe ends of the same being oppositely offset from a central plane perpendicular to the tail portion, each longitudinal element of the blade parallel to said plane being regularly directed laterally outwardly to an appreciable extent and forwardly and then laterally inwardly to a lesser extent, the reversals of lateral direction of the elements forming a biased groove in the blade, the direction of groove biasing being toward the toe side and end4 portion from the opposite side and instep end portion, and means securing said tail portions together in rigid relation with the rst mentioned laterally directed portions being oppositely directed, each tail portion having a thickness greater thanthe blade portion, and a blade reenforcing portion extending longitudinal- 1y from the tail portion substantially to the biased groove of each blade and of progressively reduced width from the tail portion to the other end of said reenforcing portion.

2. A cutting head for sewer line cleaning and the like, including a pair of half-sole-like outlined cutter blades each with an anchoring tail portion extending from what would be the instep end of the blade, the toe ends of the same being oppositely offset from a central plane perpendicular to the tail portion, each longitudinal element of the blade parallel to said plane being regularly directed laterally outwardly to an appreciable extent and forwardly andfthen laterally inwardly to a lesser extent, the reversals of lateral direction of the elements forming a biased groove in the blade, the direction of groove biasing being toward the toe side and end portion from the opposite side and instep end portion, and means securing said tail portions together in rigid relation with the rst mentioned laterally directed portions being oppositely directed, each tail portion having a thickness greater than the blade portion, and a blade reenforcing portion extending longitudinally from the tail portion substantially to the biased groove of each blade and of progressively reduced width from the tail portion to the other end of said reenforcing portion, said reenforcing portion being integral with the blade.

3. A cutting head for sewer line cleaning and the like, including a pair of half-sole-like outlined cutter blades each with an anchoring tail portion extending from what would be the instep end of the blade, the toe ends of the same being oppositely offset from a central plane perpendicular tothe tail portion, each longitudinal element of the blade parallel to said plane being regularly directed laterally outwardly to an appreciable extent and forwardly and then laterally inwardly to a lesser extent, the reversals of lateral direction of the elements forming a biased groove in the blade,

the direction of groove biasing being toward the i toe side and end portion from the opposite side and instep end portion, and means securing said tail portions together in rigid relation with the f first mentioned laterally directed portions being oppositely directed, each tail portion having a thickness greater than the blade portion, and a blade reenforcing portion extending longitudinally from the tail portion substantially to the biased groove of each blade and of progressively reduced width from the tail portion to the other end of said reeniorcing portion, said reenforcing portion being integral with the blade, the reenforcing portions of the blades being on the confronting faces of the iirst mentioned laterally directed portions.

4. A cutting head for sewer line cleaning and the like, including a pair of half-sole-like outlined cutter blades each with an anchoring tail portion extending from what would be the instep end of the blade, means securing said tail portions together in rigid relation, said last mentioned means including a base portion interposed betweenl the tail portions, a clamping arrangement securing the base and tail portions together, spaced flange means extending from each tail engageable face of the base portion, the tail portion being seatable therebetween, spaced abutments upon and rigid with each tail engageable face of the base portion, and tongue means extending rearwardly from each tail portion and interposed between thc spaced abutments and forming shoulders for abutment engagement.

5. `A cutting head for sewer line cleaning and the like, including a pair of half-sole-like outlined cutter blades each with an anchoring tail portion extending from what would be the instep end of the blade, means securing said tail portions together in rigid relation, said last mentioned means including a base portion interposed between the tail portions, a clamping arrangement securing the base and tail portions together, spaced members projecting outwardly from each of the tail engageable faces of the base portion, tongue means located between each pair of members and extending rearwardly from each tail portion and forming therewith spaced member engaging shoulders, and a bridge portion connecting each similarly directed pair of spaced members and forming tongue receiving socket therewith.

6. A cutting head for sewer line cleaning and the like, including a pair of half-sole-like outlined cutter blades each with an anchoring tail portion extending from what would be the instep end of the blade, means securing said tail portions together in rigid relation, said last mentioned means including a base portion interposed between the tail portions, a clamping arrangement securing the base and tail portions together, spaced members projecting outwardly from each of the tail engagable faces of the base portion, tongue means located between each pair of members and extending rearwardly from each tail portion and forming therewith spaced member engaging shoulders, and a bridge portion connecting each similarly directly pair of spaced members and forming a tongue receiving socket therewith, said clamping arrangement including clamping members, each having a portion seated in the socket :formed by said bridge portion and members connected thereby.

'7. A reversely rotatable, alternately reciprocable head, having a plurality of spaced, similar shoe-sole shaped cutting blades free at their forward ends and connected at their rearward ends, an edge on one blade spaced a predetermined distance from a diagonally opposite edge on the other blade being arranged for small bore cutting when rotated in forward direction, and other diagonally spaced edges on the opposite sides of each blade and more remotely spaced apart than said edges for larger bore cutting when rotated in reverse direction of longitudinal movement.

8. A reversely rotatable, alternately reciprocable head, having a plurality of spaced, similar shoe-sole shaped cutting blades free at their forward ends and connected at their rearward ends, an edge on one blade spaced a predetermined distance from a diagonally opposite edge on the other blade being arranged for small bore cutting when rotated in forward direction, and other diagonally spaced edges on the opposite sides of each blade and more remotely spaced apart than said edges for larger bore cutting when rotated in reverse direction of longitudinal movement, the blades each having a forward cutting edge of lesser length than the rearward cutting edge.

9. In a cutting head structure including a supporting base, and an elongated cutting blade supported at one end by the base, the combination of a tail portion on .the blade, spaced iiange means extending outwardly from the base and nesting the tail portion therebetween, tongue means extending from the tail portion and oppositely from the blade and forming a shoulder structure with the former, abutment means located between the flanges and upon the base for shoulder engagement, and means for clamping the tail portion to the base.

10. A structure as defined by Claim 9 Characterized by the height of the flanges being less than the thickness of the tail portionv and said clamping means including a clamping plate operatively bearing on the latter.

11. A structure as defined by claim 9 characterized by the height of the flanges being less than the thickness of the tail portion and said clamping means including a clamping plate, the abutment means being at the rear end of each flange, means joining the outer ends of the abutment means to form a socket, and the clamping plate having an extension seatable in the socket and operatively bearing on the tail and tongue portions of the blade.

CLARENCE E. BABCOCK. 

